What Benefits Come With a Southwest Airlines Credit Card?

If Southwest is your preferred airline, having a co-branded credit card can be a smart choice. Whether you fly often enough to aim for elite status or simply choose Southwest because you live near a hub, these cards offer a range of perks that can enhance travel and save you money.

Cards like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card not only help you earn points for free flights but also provide added benefits like upgraded boarding and travel insurance. Our guide explores the key benefits of Southwest credit cards and how they can make your flights more rewarding.

All purchases made with a Southwest Airlines credit card earn Rapid Rewards points. These points can be used for a variety of rewards, including flights, hotel stays, car rentals and more. Generally, Southwest points are worth 1.4 cents per point, and you can get the best value by redeeming for award flights.

The number of points you earn varies depending on the category you’re spending on and what specific card you have.

Aside from earning Rapid Rewards points, another Southwest credit card benefit is their ability to earn Companion Pass points and tier-qualifying points (TQPs) for A-List status. The Companion Pass allows you to designate one person to fly with you for free (excluding taxes and fees), while A-List status provides benefits like points boost and priority boarding and check-in.

Southwest credit cards typically come with a sign-up bonus after you meet the required spending within the first few months of opening the account. While consumer Southwest cards used to have different sign-up bonuses, they now offer the same bonus across the board. Meanwhile, Southwest business credit cards come with higher sign-up bonuses.

Additionally, Southwest credit cards come with anniversary points ranging from 3,000 to 9,000 points per year, depending on the card. This can give you a nice boost and help you reach your travel goals even faster.

Notably, the bonus points you earn also translate to Companion Pass points. This means hitting the sign-up bonus can make the much-valued Companion Pass easier to obtain.

Southwest credit cards can help you earn points toward achieving a Companion Pass and elite status.

The Companion Pass allows you to bring a designated companion on any Southwest flight for just taxes and fees. To qualify, you need 135,000 qualifying points or 100 one-way flights in a calendar year — a challenging goal to hit. However, every Rapid Rewards point you earn with a Southwest credit card, including sign-up bonuses, counts toward this total.

Meanwhile, Southwest’s elite status includes A-List and A-List Preferred. A-List offers perks like priority check-in, expedited security, dedicated customer service and 25% bonus points on flights, while A-List Preferred adds free inflight Wi-Fi and 100% bonus points. Reaching these statuses requires 35,000 or 70,000 TQPs or meeting specific flight requirements. Most Southwest cards, excluding the Rapid Rewards Plus, earn 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent, with no cap on how many you can earn.

Using a Southwest card turns everyday spending into a path to elite travel perks, accelerating your way to these benefits. Without one, you’d miss out on these valuable boosts, making it even harder to achieve these rewards.

One of the standout benefits of a Southwest Airlines credit card is the flexibility of booking award flights. With no blackout dates, you can use your points for any available seat on any Southwest flight, giving you more options when planning your trips. Unlike some other airlines, Southwest doesn’t restrict you to specific dates or flights, allowing you to travel whenever it suits you.

Plus, your Rapid Rewards points never expire as long as your account remains open, so you can save and redeem them at your own pace. Another great feature is that Southwest doesn’t charge change fees on award flights, allowing you to modify your travel plans without extra costs and making it easier to adapt to unexpected changes.

Southwest credit cards offer perks like EarlyBird check-in and priority boarding, with the number of passes varying by card. EarlyBird check-in automatically checks you in ahead of general boarding, giving you an earlier boarding position and a better chance to snag your preferred seat and secure overhead bin space. Priority boarding, available on select cards, lets you board even earlier in the process, adding extra convenience for frequent travelers.

Unlike many other co-branded airline cards, Southwest already provides all passengers with two free checked bags, so this isn’t a card-exclusive perk. However, Southwest cardholders can enjoy in-flight discounts on Wi-Fi, drinks and snacks.

Foreign transaction fees can pile up fast when you’re traveling internationally. Thankfully, all Southwest Airlines credit cards — except the Rapid Rewards Plus — waive these fees, making them an excellent option for overseas trips. By using a Southwest card, you can save up to 3% on every purchase made outside the U.S.

When you travel, unexpected events can disrupt your plans. Fortunately, Southwest Airlines credit cards offer these coverages to help you keep your mind at ease when traveling. Note that the coverage you get will vary between consumer and business cards.

• Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Covers up to $3,000 per passenger if your checked or carry-on luggage is lost or damaged by the carrier. This coverage is available on all Southwest credit cards.
• Baggage Delay Insurance: Provides reimbursement of up to $100 per day for essential purchases, such as toiletries and clothing, when your baggage is delayed over six hours. This benefit is available for up to three days and is included with all Southwest cards.
• Purchase Protection: Protects new purchases against damage or theft for 120 days. Personal cards cover up to $500 per claim, while business cards like Rapid Rewards Premier Business and Rapid Rewards Performance Business cover up to $10,000 per claim, with a $50,000 limit per account.
• Extended Warranty Protection: Adds an extra year to the U.S. manufacturer’s warranty on eligible items with warranties of three years or less. This benefit applies to all Southwest credit cards.

Choosing the right Southwest credit card can enhance your travel experience and help you earn rewards faster. Use the table below to compare the five co-branded cards from Southwest Airlines and find the one that best fits your travel needs.